The Book Incorporates In A Comparative Manner The Various Important Classifications Of Fungi Given By Different Workers. It Deals With The Morphology, Taxonomy, Life Cycles Of Various Groups Of Fungi And Also Includes The Disease Cycle And Control Measures Of Fungal Pathogens, Responsible For Causing Diseases Of National As Well As International Importance. The Book Has Been Written To Cater To The Needs Of Honours And Postgraduate Students Of Indian Universities. The Aim Of The Book Is To Bring In All The Recent Information In Fungi In One Volume. General Topics Like Heterothallism, Parasexual Cycle, Sex Hormones, Evolutionary Tendencies In Lower Fungi, Evolution Of Conidium From A Sporangium, Sexuality In Ascomycetes With Special Reference To Degeneration And Modification Of Sex Organs, Phylogeny Of Fungi Have Been Discussed At Length. Important Topics Like Ecology, Economic Importance Of Fungi In Various Ways, Applications Of Fungi In Biotechnology And Fungi As Symbionts Of Photobionts, Plants And Insects Has Also Been Discussed In Detail. Appendices Like Important Text And Reference Books, Mycoiogical Journals, Fungal Culture Collection Centres Of The World, Mounting Media And Common Culture Media For Fungi Have Been Included.

Organisms of uncertain affinity. The lower fungi. The higher fungi. The lichens.

Outlines the development of the main branches of mycology.

The Fifth Kingdom is a basic text in mycology. It surveys the world of mycology through classification, physiology and genetics, and discusses applications of mycology in the modern world, from brewing and baking to health, medicine and disease.

Modern Mycology is an established text that continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to fungi--a group of organisms distinct from all other forms of life. It will appeal to undergraduate students taking courses in microbiology, mycology and biology. This edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the many exciting developments in the field; notably, those relating to understanding fungal cell biology and the application of fungal molecular genetics. The author maintains the tradition of clarity and accessibility set by previous editions, and the text is extensively illustrated with photographs and diagrams. In keeping with modern teaching methods, this textbook adopts a functional approach and emphasizes the behaviour, physiology, activities and practical significance of fungi. The book contains extensive sections on the fungal pathogens of plants, animals and humans; the roles of fungi in major environmental processes; and the use of fungi as biological control agents of pests and pathogens. Essential reading for undergraduate students taking courses in microbiology and mycology. Fully revised and updated to reflect the many exciting new developments in the field, notably those relating to an understanding of fungal cell biology and the application of fungal molecular genetics. Adopts a functional approach in keeping with modern teaching methods. Maintains tradition of clarity and accessibility set by previous editions. Extensively illustrated with photographs (including colour) and diagrams.

The book deals with fungi, deftly defined as “the organisms studied by mycologists”. The fungi are now placed under three kingdoms: Fungi, Protozoa and Chromista/Straminopila due to their phylogenetic heterogeneity. In the last decade, world wide research projects: the “Deep Hypha” and AFTOL (Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life), have provided a phylogenetic classification based on genetic relatedness as evidenced by DNA sequencing data. The ‘Eumycotan fungi’, the ‘Protozoan fungi’ and the ‘Chromistan fungi’ represent distinct monophyletic groups. i.e. each group has a common ancestor and all are its descendants. The classification offered by above mega research projects and accepted by Dictionary of Fungi (2008) and leading international journals, forms the basis of this book. There are many surprises: Fungi and Animalia together form a monophyletic group. But there is no common name for them, and are called as “sister groups”. The mycologists would discover emergence of a new world of ‘modern mycology’ gleaned from recent publications. The book starts with History of Mycology remembering Louis Pasteur’s famous quote “History of science is science itself”. There are 31 chapters describing the form and function of fungi. Their symbiotic associations, chemical activities, secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, heterothallism, parasexuality and sex hormones are described under exclusive chapters. Each chapter is followed by a ‘summary’, and ‘test questions’. The book will be indispensable for students of botany, microbiology, plant pathology and medical mycology.